Housing closure



1953 R. R. BENNIGHOF 2,661,118

HOUSING CLOSURE Filed July 25, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESIES: FIGSINVENTOR RALPH R. BENNlGHOF A TORNEY Dec. 1, 1953 R. R. BENNIGHOF2,661,118

' HOUSING CLOSURE Filed July 25, 1950 S 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGA.

WITNESSES:

' INVENTOR RALPH R.BENNIGHOF BYwy ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1, 1953 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE HOUSING CLOSURE Application July 25, 1950, SerialNo. 175,753

Claims. 1

This invention relates to sheet material housings in general and moreparticularly to sheet metal housings for small appliances.

An object of the invention is to provide a housing in which a flangedopening may be closed by a cover member which may be installed with aminimum of time and effort.

Another object is to provide a housing in which a flanged opening may beclosed by a cover member held securely in position with a minimum numberof screws.

A further object is to reduce the labor necessary to provide a closurefor a housing, thereby efiecting a reduction in cost.

These and other objects are effected by the invention as will beapparent from the following description and claims taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of an electric hot-plate embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the hot-plate, in

inverted position and with parts in section, showing a stage in theassembly;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hot-plate, in invertedposition, showing a stage in the assembly; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the completed assembly.

Referring to the drawings in detail and especially to Fig. 1, there isshown an electric hotplate, embodying the invention, and having aplurality of surface heating units l2 mounted in a sheet metal platform[4. The platform I4 is superimposed on a body member IS on which aremounted switches 18 for controlling the operation of the surface heatingunits l2, as well understood in the art.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the body 16 has an open bottom end 20which is closed by a flat bottom cover member 22 conforming generally insize and shape to the bottom of the body. The body I6 is generallyrectangular in shape and is provided with a pair of oppositely disposedwalls 23 and 24 and a second pair of oppositely disposed walls 25. Thewalls 23 and 24 have their end portions bent inwardly to provide flanges26 and 21, respectively, and the walls 25 have their end portionsdisposed inwardly to provide a pair of flanges 28. The flanges 26, 21and 28 are discontinuous, there being a cut-away portion 29 adjacenteach corner of the body It.

The cover member 22 is preferably made of flexible sheet metal and isprovided with a plurality of integral tongues 30 which may be formedtherein by lancing. Although any number of tongues may be provided asdesired, I have shown the cover as having four tongues, one pair oftongues being disposed in each of a pair of oppositely disposed edges32. The tongues may be offset with respect to the plane of the cover andare substantially longer than the width of the flanges 28 for a purposewhich will be subsequently described.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the cover may be mounted on the body l6 bybowing the cover temporarily to permit partial insertion of the tongues39 under the flanges 28 of the body. On releasing the cover it willreturn to its normal flat shape, causing the tongues to be furtherinserted below the flanges 28 as best shown in Fig. 4. It will be notedthat the cover is initially applied to the body slightly out of registrywith the open end 23. Thus, the cover has one edge portion 33 spacedfrom the flange 26, while the opposite edge portion 34 overlies theflange 2'! and overhangs the wall 24. By moving the cover in thedirection of the arrow and exerting a downward force on the edge portion33 thereof, such edge portion may be inserted below the flange 26, asshown in Fig. 5 and the cover is brought into registry with the open end20. The edge portion 34 of the cover 22 abuts the upper surface of theflange 21 of the (body and the cover is rigidly held to the body by thelocking engagement of the tongues 30 with the flanges 28 and thefrictional engagement of its edge 33 with the flange 26. Although notentirely essential, if desired, the edge 34 may be detachably secured tothe flange 2! by a screw 35 or other locking means.

The cover 22 may be removed from the body l6, if necessary for servicingpurposes, by reversing the above sequence of operations.

The cover may also be provided with a plurality of insulated supportingfeet 36, located adjacent the corners of the cover plate 22, to preventscratching or overheating of a polished table surface when the hot-plateis placed thereon.

It will now be seen that there has been provided a sheet metal covermember which may be attached to a body with a minimum of labor and time.Critical alignment of the numerous holes usually required in the coverand body for screws is substantially reduced by the omission of all butone pair of holes. Also, a considerable saving is effected by thesubstantial reduction in the number of screws required. The inventionlends

